Attachment provision control device, attachment provision control method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

An attachment provision control device according to the present invention includes: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The processor performs operations. The operations include: acquiring information related to a purchased product and at least one of a purchase quantity and a purchase amount of the purchased product; determining at least one of a number and an amount of attachments to be attached to the purchased product based on the information related to the purchased product and at least one of the purchase quantity and the purchase amount of the purchased product; and transmitting an instruction to provide at least one of the determined number of attachments or the determined amount of attachments to an attachment provision device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to provision of an attachment attached toa product.

BACKGROUND ART

Products handled in retail stores (for example, convenience store,supermarket, or the like) include a product with an attachment such as alunch box with chopsticks and a soy sauce. For example, patentliteratures (PTLs) 1 and 2 disclose a technique for preventingforgetting to attach attachments when a product is sold. A productinformation output device described in PTL 1 displays a product and anarticle that is used at the same time as the product. A productregistration processing device described in PTL 2 displays an attachmenttogether with display of a product.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   [PTL 1] JP 2005-300336 A-   [PTL 2] JP 2018-005814 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

To attach an attachment by a clerk in a retail store causes a load interms of work, and the techniques in PTLs 1 and 2 are insufficient forpreventing forgetting to attach the attachments.

One object of the present disclosure is to provide an attachmentprovision control device or the like that can automatically provide atleast one of an appropriate number of attachments and an appropriateamount of attachments.

Solution to Problem

An attachment provision control device according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure includes:

product information acquisition means for acquiring information relatedto a purchased product and at least one of a purchase quantity and apurchase amount of the purchased product;

attachment determination means for determining at least one of a numberand an amount of attachments to be attached to the purchased productbased on the information related to the purchased product and at leastone of the purchase quantity and the purchase amount of the purchasedproduct; and

transmission means for transmitting an instruction to provide at leastone of the determined number of attachments or the determined amount ofattachments to an attachment provision device.

An attachment provision system according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure includes:

an attachment provision control device including:

-   -   product information acquisition means for acquiring information        related to a purchased product and at least one of a purchase        quantity and a purchase amount of the purchased product;    -   attachment determination means for determining at least one of a        number and an amount of attachments to be attached to the        purchased product based on the information related to the        purchased product and at least one of the purchase quantity and        the purchase amount of the purchased product; and    -   transmission means for transmitting an instruction to provide at        least one of the determined number of attachments or the        determined amount of attachments to an attachment provision        device;

the attachment provision device that provides the attachment based onthe instruction received from the attachment provision control device;and

a product identification device that identifies the purchased productand at least one of the purchase quantity and the purchase amount of thepurchased product and transmits the information related to the purchasedproduct and at least one of the purchase quantity and the purchaseamount of the purchased product to the attachment provision controldevice.

An attachment provision control method according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure includes:

acquiring information related to a purchased product and at least one ofa purchase quantity and a purchase amount of the purchased product;

determining at least one of a number and an amount of attachments to beattached to the purchased product based on the information related tothe purchased product and at least one of the purchase quantity and thepurchase amount of the purchased product; and

transmitting an instruction to provide at least one of the determinednumber of attachments or the determined amount of attachments to anattachment provision device.

An attachment provision method according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure, in which

an attachment provision control device

-   -   acquires information related to a purchased product and at least        one of a purchase quantity and a purchase amount of the        purchased product,    -   determines at least one of a number and an amount of attachments        to be attached to the purchased product based on the information        related to the purchased product and at least one of the        purchase quantity and the purchase amount of the purchased        product, and    -   transmits an instruction to provide at least one of the        determined number of attachments or the determined amount of        attachments to an attachment provision device;

the attachment provision device

-   -   provides the attachment based on the instruction received from        the attachment provision control device; and

a product identification device

-   -   identifies the purchased product and at least one of the        purchase quantity and the purchase amount of the purchased        product, and    -   transmits the information related to the purchased product and        at least one of the purchase quantity and the purchase amount of        the purchased product to the attachment provision control        device.

A recording medium according to one aspect of the present disclosurerecords, in a computer-readable manner, a program for causing a computerto execute processing including:

processing for acquiring information related to a purchased product andat least one of a purchase quantity and a purchase amount of thepurchased product;

processing for determining at least one of a number and an amount ofattachments to be attached to the purchased product based on theinformation related to the purchased product and at least one of thepurchase quantity and the purchase amount of the purchased product; and

processing for transmitting an instruction to provide at least one ofthe determined number of attachments or the determined amount ofattachments to an attachment provision device.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

An effect of the present disclosure is to provide at least one of anappropriate number of attachments and an appropriate amount ofattachments to a customer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an attachmentprovision system according to a first example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an attachmentprovision control device according to the first example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an attachmentprovision device according to the first example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an attachmentprovision system according to a second example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of display for changing thenumber of attachments.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of display in a case wherean attachment is changed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an attachmentprovision control device according to the second example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an attachmentprovision system according to a third example embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an attachmentprovision control device according to the third example embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareconfiguration of a computer.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

Example embodiments will be described in detail with reference to thedrawings. In each drawing and each example embodiment described in thespecification, the same component is denoted with the same referencenumeral, and description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

First, terms used for description of each example embodiment below willbe described.

A “purchased product” is a product purchased by a customer.

“Purchased product identification information” is information used toidentify a purchased product in each example embodiment. The purchasedproduct identification information includes information related to thepurchased product and at least one of a purchase quantity of thepurchased product and a purchase amount of the purchased product. Thepurchased product identification information may include other pieces ofinformation.

A format of the information included in the purchased productidentification information is not limited. For example, the informationrelated to the purchased product in the purchased product identificationinformation may be information indicating the purchased product (forexample, name of purchased product or a product code (for example, JANcode)). However, the purchased product identification information is notlimited to the above.

In each example embodiment, a method for acquiring the purchased productidentification information is not limited. For example, each exampleembodiment may image the purchased product by using a camera and appliespredetermined image recognition processing on the image acquired fromthe camera in such a way as to acquire the purchased productidentification information. Alternatively, each example embodiment mayuse a barcode printed or attached on the purchased product.Alternatively, each example embodiment may use information stored in aradio frequency (RF) tag attached to the purchased product.

An “attachment” is an article attached to the purchased product.

For example, in a case where the purchased product is coffee, thefollowing attachments are assumed as attachments.

(1) Items necessary for eating and drinking: spoons, straws, or thelike.

(2) Items to adjust taste: sugar, cream, spices (for example, cinnamon),or the like.

(3) Items for carrying the purchased product: holders, sleeves, bags, orthe like.

A form of the provision of the attachment is not limited. For example,forms for providing sugar include a form for specifying the number suchas sugar cubes or a packed sugar and a form for specifying an amountsuch as a case where sugar is provided as a mixture with coffee. In eachexample embodiment, any form may be used as the form for providing theattachment.

The number and the amount of attachments to be attached to the purchasedproduct do not need to be fixed. For example, there is a case wheresugar which is one of the attachments of coffee is unnecessary, or thereis a case where sugar of which an amount is larger than a normallyattached amount is desired.

Moreover, the attachment is not limited to an article attached to foodor beverage. For example, it is sufficient that the attachment beattached to the product to be purchased, such as a clothing bag and ahanger for cloth, a cable for a home electric appliance, or the like.

The attachment is not limited to an article such as a cable that isdirectly related to the purchased product. For example, the attachmentmay be a commemorative article or a premium for promotion.

Moreover, the attachment may be an article to which a provision periodis set. For example, the attachment may be a premium that is attachmentwithin a limited period.

The attachment may be an article that is attached to a combination ofpurchased products. For example, the attachment may be a premium for aproduct set.

The attachment is not limited to a free article and may be a paidarticle.

“Attachment information” is information used to determine an attachmentto be attached to a purchased product. For example, the attachmentinformation is information that includes a purchased product, anattachment attached to the purchased product, and at least one of thenumber and the amount of attachments to be attached in association witheach other. The number of types of the attachments to be attached to thepurchased product is not limited to one and may be plural. For example,in a case where the purchased product is a lunch box, chopsticks andnapkins may be attached as the attachments.

In the following description, for convenience of description, there is acase where “at least one of the number and the amount of attachments” iscollectively referred to as “the number of attachments”.

“Attachment history information” is information regarding an attachmentthat has been attached by a customer in the past. For example, theattachment history information is a history regarding at least one ofthe number and the amount of attachments attached to the purchasedproduct. More specifically, the attachment history information isinformation from which an attachment to be attached and at least one ofthe number and the amount of the attachments can be acquired on thebasis of the customer and the purchased product.

An “attachment provision device” is a device that provides an attachmentto a customer. A mechanism for providing the attachment by theattachment provision device is not limited. For example, the attachmentprovision device may be a device that stores attachments in each of aplurality of sections each having a door and is controlled by theattachment provision control device of each example embodiment to openthe door. Alternatively, the attachment provision device may be a devicethat is controlled by the attachment provision control device of eachexample embodiment and conveys the necessary number of attachments to atakeout port.

The attachment provision device may be included or may be different fromthe attachment provision control device of each example embodiment. In acase where the attachment provision device is a device different fromthe attachment provision control device, a position where the attachmentprovision device is provided is not limited. For example, the attachmentprovision device may be provided near a point of sales (POS) terminalused for settlement by a customer, may be provided at a place differentfrom the POS terminal in the store, or may be provided outside thestore. In a case where the attachment provision device is provided at aplace apart from the attachment provision control device such as outsideof the store, the attachment provision device may acquire informationthat associates the attachment to be provided with the customer anddetermine the customer before providing the attachment.

In the following description, for convenience of description, theattachment provision device will be described as a device different fromthe attachment control device.

The single attachment provision device may be controlled by theplurality of attachment provision control devices. Alternatively, theplurality of attachment provision devices may be controlled by thesingle attachment provision control device.

First Example Embodiment

A first example embodiment will be described.

First, a configuration of an attachment provision system 10 according tothe first example embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of theattachment provision system 10 including an attachment provision controldevice 100 according to the first example embodiment. The attachmentprovision system 10 includes the attachment provision control device100, a product identification device 210, and an attachment provisiondevice 220.

The product identification device 210 identifies a product (purchasedproduct) purchased by a customer and transmits purchased productidentification information to the attachment provision control device100 on the basis of the identification result.

An identification method used by the product identification device 210is not limited. For example, the product identification device 210 mayidentify the purchased product or the like by using image recognition.Alternatively, the product identification device 210 may identify thepurchased product by using a barcode, an RF tag, or the like.

The attachment provision control device 100 acquires the purchasedproduct identification information from the product identificationdevice 210. Then, the attachment provision control device 100 transmitsat least one of the number and the amount of attachments to theattachment provision device 220 to cause the attachment provision device220 to provide the attachments to customers or the like. The attachmentprovision control device 100 may transmit other types of information tothe attachment provision device 220. For example, the attachmentprovision control device 100 may transmit information indicating anattachment to be provided to the attachment provision device 220.

The attachment provision control device 100 may be included in anydevice. For example, a POS terminal in a store may include theattachment provision control device 100. Alternatively, a server thatmanages a store may include the attachment provision control device 100.Alternatively, a server of a management system that manages a pluralityof stores may include the attachment provision control device 100.

The attachment provision device 220 provides the attachment on the basisof the information received from the attachment provision control device100.

Next, a configuration of the attachment provision control device 100will be described.

With reference to FIG. 1, the attachment provision control device 100includes a storage unit 110, a product information acquisition unit 120,an attachment determination unit 130, and a transmission unit 140.

The storage unit 110 stores a product, an attachment to be attached tothe product, and at least one of the number and the amount ofattachments (the number of attachments) in association with each other.That is, the storage unit 110 stores the attachment information(attachment information 111 in FIG. 1). The storage unit 110 stores theattachment information 111 in advance. For example, an administrator ofthe attachment provision control device 100 makes the storage unit 110store the attachment information 111 in advance. The storage unit 110may be provided in a device outside the attachment provision controldevice 100. In this case, the attachment provision control device 100does not include the storage unit 110, and it is sufficient for theattachment provision control device 100 to operate using informationassociated to the attachment information 111 in the external device (notillustrated).

The product information acquisition unit 120 acquires purchased productidentification information (information related to purchased product andat least one of purchase quantity and purchase amount of purchasedproduct) and sends the acquired purchased product identificationinformation to the attachment determination unit 130.

The attachment determination unit 130 retrieves the attachmentinformation 111 by using the received purchased product identificationinformation, and outputs at least one of the number and the amount ofattachments to be attached to the purchased product (that is, the numberof attachments) to the transmission unit 140.

The transmission unit 140 transmits an instruction to the attachmentprovision device 220 to provide at least one of the number and theamount of attachments in such a way as to provide the received number ofattachments.

The transmission unit 140 may transmit other types of information (forexample, information indicating attachment) in addition to the number ofattachments. For example, in a case where the attachment provisiondevice 220 provides the plurality of types of attachments, theattachment provision device 220 requires the type of the attachment tobe provided to be specified. Therefore, in such a case, the attachmentdetermination unit 130 sends, in addition to the number of attachments,information for specifying the type of the attachment (for example,attachment name or identifier) to the transmission unit 140. Then, it issufficient for the transmission unit 140 to transmit the information forspecifying the type of the attachment to the attachment provision device220, in addition to the number of attachments.

Moreover, the transmission unit 140 may communicate informationnecessary for control of the attachment provision device 220 (forexample, commands and replies) to the attachment provision device 220.

On the basis of such a configuration, the attachment provision system 10provides at least one of an appropriate number and an appropriate amountof attachments to the customer.

Next, an operation of the attachment provision control device 100according to the first example embodiment will be described.

A timing when the operation of the attachment provision control device100 starts is not limited. For example, the attachment provision controldevice 100 may detect completion of payment for the purchased product bythe customer and start the operation. For example, the attachmentprovision control device 100 may detect that settlement at a POSterminal is completed, and then, start the operation.

Alternatively, the attachment provision control device 100 may start theoperation in response to an instruction by a customer after purchase.For example, the POS terminal may display whether an attachment isneeded at the time of settlement. In this case, it is sufficient for theattachment provision control device 100 to start the operation in a casewhere the POS terminal accepts “necessary”.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the attachmentprovision control device 100 according to the first example embodiment.

The product information acquisition unit 120 of the attachment provisioncontrol device 100 acquires purchased product identification informationrelated to a purchased product from the product identification device210 (step S301).

The attachment determination unit 130 determines the number ofattachments (at least one of the number of attachments and the amount ofattachments) by using the attachment information 111 stored in thestorage unit 110 and the received purchased product identificationinformation (step S303).

An example of determination by the attachment determination unit 130using the attachment information 111 illustrated in FIG. 1 will bedescribed.

It is assumed that the attachment determination unit 130 receivespurchased product identification information indicating that a purchasedproduct is a lunch box.

In this case, the attachment determination unit 130 extracts a pair ofan attachment of which the product is a lunch box and the number ofattachments from the attachment information 111. In a case of FIG. 1,the extracted pairs of the attachment and the number of attachmentsinclude a pair of “attachment=chopsticks” and “the number ofattachments=1”, a pair of “attachment=spoon” and “the number ofattachments=0”, and a pair of “attachment=soy sauce” and “the number ofattachments=1”.

Here, the spoon of which the number of attachments is zero does not needto be attached. Therefore, the attachment determination unit 130determines the number of attachments “1” of the attachment “chopsticks”and the number of attachments “1” of the attachment “soy sauce” on thebasis of the extracted pairs.

The transmission unit 140 transmits an instruction to provide at leastone of the determined number of attachments and the determined amount ofattachments to the attachment provision device 220 (step S305).

As described above, the operation of the attachment provision controldevice 100 according to the first example embodiment is completed.

The attachment provision device 220 provides the received number ofattachments.

Next, an effect of the first example embodiment will be described.

According to the first example embodiment, an effect can be achievedsuch that at least one of an appropriate number of attachments and anappropriate amount of attachments are provided to a customer.

The reasons are as follows.

The attachment provision control device 100 includes the storage unit110, the product information acquisition unit 120, the attachmentdetermination unit 130, and the transmission unit 140. The storage unit110 stores the attachment information 111 that is information in which aproduct, an attachment attached to the product, and at least one of thenumber and the amount of attachments are associated with each other. Theproduct information acquisition unit 120 acquires information related toa purchased product and at least one of a purchase quantity and apurchase amount of the purchased product. The attachment determinationunit 130 determines at least one of a number and an amount ofattachments attached to the purchased product based on the informationrelated to the purchased product, at least one of the purchase quantityand the purchase amount of the purchased product, and the attachmentinformation 111. The transmission unit 140 transmits an instruction toprovide at least one of the determined number of attachments and thedetermined amount of attachments to the attachment provision device 220.

On the basis of the above configuration, the attachment provisioncontrol device 100 can control the attachment provision device 220 insuch a way as to provide the attachment associated to the purchasedproduct related to the purchased product identification informationacquired from the product identification device 210.

That is, the attachment provision system 10 can provide at least one ofthe appropriate number of attachments and the appropriate amount ofattachments associated to the purchased product identified by theproduct identification device 210 from the attachment provision device220 to the customer on the basis of the configuration of the attachmentprovision control device 100.

Moreover, the attachment provision system 10 does not need an operationby a clerk or the like. That is, the attachment provision system 10 canautomatically provide the attachment to the customer.

Regarding retail stores, introduction of a labor-saving store in whichthe number of employees who station in the store is reduced or anunattended store in which no employee stations (hereinafter, these arecollectively referred to as “labor-saving store”) using a computersystem has been proceeded.

Generally, the labor-saving store is smaller than a normal store and hasa limited sales area. Therefore, as compared with the normal store, itis necessary to narrow the number of stocks including attachments in thelabor-saving store.

In a case where customers are responsible for the number of attachmentsto be acquired, there is a possibility that the customers acquire moreattachments than needed.

As described above, the number of stocks of attachments is small in thelabor-saving store. Therefore, when customers often excessively acquirethe attachments in the labor-saving store, a shortage of the attachmentsoccurs. Then, in the labor-saving store, it is not easy to replenish theattachments.

The attachment provision control device 100 provides an appropriatenumber of attachments with respect to the purchased product. Therefore,when the attachment provision control device 100 is applied to thelabor-saving store, it is possible to reduce a frequency of theoccurrence of the attachment shortage in the labor-saving store.

Next, an outline of the attachment provision control device 100according to the first example embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an attachmentprovision control device 101 that is an outline of the attachmentprovision control device 100 according to the first example embodiment.

The attachment provision control device 101 includes a productinformation acquisition unit 120, an attachment determination unit 130,and a transmission unit 140. The product information acquisition unit120 acquires information related to a purchased product and at least oneof a purchase quantity and a purchase amount of the purchased product.The attachment determination unit 130 determines at least one of anumber and an amount of attachments to be attached to the purchasedproduct based on the information related to the purchased product and atleast one of the purchase quantity and the purchase amount of thepurchased product. The transmission unit 140 transmits an instruction toprovide at least one of the determined number of attachments and thedetermined amount of attachments to the attachment provision device 220.

The attachment provision control device 101 configured in this way canachieve an effect similar to that of the attachment provision controldevice 100.

This is because each component of the attachment provision controldevice 101 similarly operates to the associating component in theattachment provision control device 100.

The attachment provision control device 101 has a minimum configurationof the first example embodiment.

Second Example Embodiment

There is a case where a customer desires to change the number or theamount of attachments. For example, some customers who purchase coffeedo not use sugar. Some customers put in more milk than usual. It isdesirable that the number and the amount of attachments to be providedcan be changed.

Therefore, as a second example embodiment, an attachment provisioncontrol device 102 will be described that can change at least one of thenumber and the amount of attachments to be provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an attachmentprovision system 11 including the attachment provision control device102 according to the second example embodiment. The attachment provisionsystem 11 includes the attachment provision control device 102, aproduct identification device 210, and an attachment provision device221.

The product identification device 210 is similar to that in the firstexample embodiment.

The attachment provision device 221 includes a display unit 230 and aninput unit 240 in addition to the functions similar to those of theattachment provision device 220.

The display unit 230 displays an attachment to be provided to acustomer. Specifically, the display unit 230 displays information tochange at least one of the number and the amount of attachments (forexample, image of attachment, name, and at least one of the number ofattachments and amount of attachments).

The input unit 240 receives an input of an instruction to change thenumber of attachments. Moreover, the input unit 240 may receive an inputof an instruction to change the attachment. Hereinafter, there is a casewhere these instructions are collectively referred to as an “instructionto change the number of attachments or the like”.

Moreover, the input unit 240 receives an instruction to provide anattachment (hereinafter, referred to as “instruction to provideattachment”) from the attachment provision device 221.

For convenience of the following description, the attachment provisiondevice 221 includes the display unit 230 and the input unit 240. Atleast one of the display unit 230 and the input unit 240 may be includedin a device different from the attachment provision device 221 (forexample, attachment provision control device 102 or another device whichis not illustrated).

However, the customer receives the attachment from the attachmentprovision device 221. Therefore, in consideration of customer'sconvenience, it is desirable that the display unit 230 and the inputunit 240 be provided in the attachment provision device 221 or beprovided near the attachment provision device 221.

The attachment provision control device 102 includes an attachmentdetermination unit 131 instead of the attachment determination unit 130,as compared with the attachment provision control device 100 accordingto the first example embodiment. Moreover, the attachment provisioncontrol device 102 includes a display control unit 150 and aninstruction acquisition unit 160. Other components are similar to thoseof the first example embodiment. Therefore, components related to thechange of the attachment that is unique to the second example embodimentwill be described in detail, and description of the components similarto those of the first example embodiment will be appropriately omitted.

The attachment determination unit 131 operates similarly to theattachment determination unit 130, determines at least one of the numberand the amount of attachments associated to a purchased product, andsends the determined value to the display control unit 150.

The display control unit 150 controls the display unit 230 in such a waythat the display unit 230 displays information regarding the attachmentdetermined by the attachment determination unit 131 (for example, thenumber of attachments). The display control unit 150 may further controlthe display unit 230 in such a way that the display unit 230 displaysinformation related to the attachment (for example, attachment name andimage of attachment).

The instruction acquisition unit 160 acquires an instruction to changeat least one of the number and the amount of attachments from the inputunit 240. The instruction acquisition unit 160 may acquire theinstruction to change the attachment.

The attachment determination unit 131 changes at least one of the numberand the amount of attachments on the basis of the instruction to changeat least one of the number and the amount of attachments acquired by theinstruction acquisition unit 160. In a case of acquiring the instructionto change the attachment, the attachment determination unit 131 changesthe attachment.

Then, the attachment determination unit 131 sends at least one of thenumber and amount of attachments that has been changed to the displaycontrol unit 150. In a case where the attachment is changed, theattachment determination unit 131 further sends information indicatingthe changed attachment to the display control unit 150.

The attachment determination unit 131 repeats the above operation untilthe instruction acquisition unit 160 acquires the instruction to providethe attachment from the input unit 240.

When the instruction acquisition unit 160 acquires the instruction toprovide the attachment from the input unit 240, the attachmentdetermination unit 131 sends the determined or changed number ofattachments to the transmission unit 140. Specifically, the attachmentdetermination unit 131 sends the instruction to provide at least one ofthe determined number of attachments, the determined amount ofattachments, the changed number of attachments, and the changed amountof attachments to the transmission unit 140.

The transmission unit 140 transmits the instruction to provide at leastone of the number of attachments and the amount of attachments receivedfrom the attachment determination unit 131 to the attachment provisiondevice 221.

The attachment provision device 221 provides the attachments on thebasis of at least one of the received number and amount of attachments.

However, the second example embodiment is not limited to the above. Forexample, the attachment provision device 221 may directly receive theinstruction to provide the attachment from the input unit 240. In thiscase, the attachment provision device 221 may notify the attachmentprovision control device 102 of that the attachment has been provided.

Some customers do not need the attachments. Therefore, in a case wherethe instruction acquisition unit 160 does not acquire an instruction(case of no operation) even if a predetermined time has elapsed afterstart of display on the display unit 230 by the display control unit150, the display control unit 150 may return the display on the displayunit 230 to an initial screen. FIG. 4 illustrates a broken line betweenthe display control unit 150 and the instruction acquisition unit 160 asconnection for implementing this function.

The initial screen it not limited to predetermined display and includesdisplay for reducing power consumption and turning off the light.

Alternatively, in a case where the attachment provision system 11 has afunction for detecting a person (for example, human sensor), the displaycontrol unit 150 may control the display on the display unit 230 inconsideration of movement of the person.

For example, the display control unit 150 stops the display on thedisplay unit 230 in an initial state. Then, in a case where a personmoves closer to one of the attachment provision device 221, the displayunit 230, and the input unit 240, the display control unit 150 may startthe display on the display unit 230. Moreover, in a case where a personmoves away from the attachment provision device 221 or the like or in acase where a person goes out of the store, the display control unit 150may stop the display on the display unit 230.

Alternatively, in a case where a movement of a person near theattachment provision device 221 (for example, movement of customer) or achange of a person (change to another customer) is detected, the displaycontrol unit 150 may change or stop the display on the display unit 230.A method for detecting the movement of the person or the change of theperson is not limited. For example, in a case where a faceauthentication device is used, the display control unit 150 maydetermine that a change of a face authenticated by the faceauthentication device as the movement or the change of the person.

Next, a display example of a change of an attachment will be describedwith reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of display for changing thenumber of attachments. The display illustrated in FIG. 5 is displayed,for example, on the display unit 230.

The display in FIG. 5 displays a name of an attachment, an image of theattachment, the number of attachments to be provided, a number increaseinstruction button (“+” button), and a number decrease instructionbutton (“−” button). Moreover, the display unit 230 displays a button toinstruct provision of the attachments (“determine” button).

For example, in a case where the display unit 230 and the input unit 240are implemented using a touch panel, a customer touches and operates thebutton illustrated in FIG. 5 with fingers or the like. For example, in acase where the number of soy sauces is increased, it is sufficient forthe customer to touch the “+” button below an image of the soy saucewith the finger or the like. The input unit 240 detects a position ofthe contact with the customer's finger or the like and notifies theinstruction acquisition unit 160 of an instruction associated to theposition.

In a case where the number of attachments is the desired number, it issufficient for the customer to touch the determine button. In this case,in a case where the position of the contact with the customer's fingeror the like is the position of the determine button, the input unit 240notifies the instruction acquisition unit 160 of an instruction toprovide the attachments.

In a case where the display unit 230 is implemented using a displaydevice of a computer or the like and the input unit 240 is implementedusing a mouse or the like, FIG. 5 is display on the display device. Forexample, it is sufficient for the customer to operate the mouse tooverlap a mouse pointer displayed on the display device on a button orthe like and click a button of the mouse in this state.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of display in a case wherean attachment is changed.

When the customer or the like touches the position of the name of theattachment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a predetermined list ofattachments (list of sauces in FIG. 6) is displayed. It is sufficientfor the customer to touch a position of a name of a desired attachment.FIG. 6 illustrates arrows and a knob in a scroll bar as examples in acase where the number of attachments is large.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are examples of the display. The display control unit 150may use display in other format as the display on the display unit 230.

The attachment determination unit 131 may provide a predetermined upperlimit of at least one of the number and the amount of attachments to beprovided. For example, in a case where an instruction to increase thenumber or the amount that exceeds the upper limit is received, it issufficient for the attachment determination unit 131 to ignore theinstruction to increase the number or the amount.

In a case where at least one of the number and the amount of attachmentsreaches the upper limit, the attachment determination unit 131 mayinstruct the display control unit 150 to stop the display to increasethe associating value. For example, the display control unit 150 maystop the display to increase the value (for example, display of “+”button illustrated in FIG. 5) on the basis of the instruction.

Alternatively, in a case where at least one of the number and the amountof attachments reaches the upper limit, the attachment determinationunit 131 may instruct the instruction acquisition unit 160 to stopreceiving the instruction to increase the number or the amount.

In a case where at least one of the number and the amount of attachmentsfalls below the upper limit, it is sufficient for the attachmentdetermination unit 131 to return the operation of the display controlunit 150 or the instruction acquisition unit 160 to a normal operation.

Next, an operation of the attachment provision control device 102according to the second example embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the attachmentprovision control device 102 according to the second example embodiment.

The product information acquisition unit 120 of the attachment provisioncontrol device 102 acquires purchased product identification informationrelated to a purchased product from the product identification device210 (step S301).

The attachment determination unit 131 determines the number ofattachments by using the attachment information 111 stored in thestorage unit 110 and the received purchased product identificationinformation (step S303).

The display control unit 150 displays the number of attachments (stepS311). For example, the display control unit 150 controls the displayunit 230 in such a way as to display the number of attachments.

The instruction acquisition unit 160 acquires an instruction (stepS313). For example, the instruction acquisition unit 160 acquires theinstruction from the input unit 240. Then, the instruction acquisitionunit 160 sends the acquired instruction to the attachment determinationunit 131.

The attachment determination unit 131 determines the instruction (stepS315). More specifically, the attachment determination unit 131determines whether the instruction is an instruction to change thenumber of attachments or the like or an instruction to provide theattachment.

In a case where the instruction is the instruction to change the numberof attachments or the like, the attachment determination unit 131changes the number of attachments or the like on the basis of theinstruction (step S317). Then, the attachment provision control device102 returns to step S307.

In a case where the instruction is the instruction to provide theattachment, the attachment determination unit 131 sends at least one ofthe determined or changed number of attachments and the determined orchanged amount of attachments to the transmission unit 140.

The transmission unit 140 transmits an instruction to provide at leastone of the determined number of attachments and the determined amount ofattachments to the attachment provision device 221 (step S305).

As described above, the operation of the attachment provision controldevice 102 according to the second example embodiment is completed.

The attachment provision device 221 provides the received number ofattachments.

Next, an effect of the second example embodiment will be described.

According to the second example embodiment, an effect for changing thenumber of attachments can be achieved, in addition to the effect of thefirst example embodiment.

The reasons are as follows.

The display control unit 150 displays at least one of the number and theamount of attachments on the display unit 230. The instructionacquisition unit 160 acquires, from the input unit 240, an instructionrelated to at least one of the provision of the attachment, the changeof the attachment, the increase in the attachments, and the reduction ofthe attachments received by the input unit 240. Then, the attachmentdetermination unit 131 changes at least one of the number and the amountof attachments on the basis of the acquired instruction.

This is because the attachment provision control device 102 can changethe type of the attachment and at least one of the number and the amountof attachments in such a way as to cope with the displayed instructionto change the number of attachments on the basis of the configurationdescribed above.

As a result, the attachment provision system 11 can provide anattachment desired by a customer without requiring an operation of aclerk.

Third Example Embodiment

A customer often desires at least one of attachments as many as andattachments of the same amount as purchased products. That is, by usingat least one of histories of the number and the amount of attachments ofthe customer in the past, it is possible to provide at least one of amore appropriate number and a more appropriate amount of attachments.

Therefore, as a third example embodiment, an attachment provisioncontrol device 103 that determines the number of attachments or the likeon the basis of the history will be described.

The attachment provision control device 103 may have functionsassociated to the attachment determination unit 131, the display controlunit 150, and the instruction acquisition unit 160 described as thesecond example embodiment. However, in the following description, forconvenience of description, a function regarding the history of theattachment will be described in detail.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an attachmentprovision system 12 including the attachment provision control device103 according to the third example embodiment. The attachment provisionsystem 12 includes a product identification device 210, an attachmentprovision control device 103, an attachment provision device 220, and acustomer identification device 250.

Because the product identification device 210 and the attachmentprovision device 220 are similar to those in the first exampleembodiment, detailed description will be omitted.

The customer identification device 250 identifies a customer whopurchases a product and transmits the identification result (forexample, customer identification information) to the attachmentprovision control device 103. A method for identifying a customer by thecustomer identification device 250 is not limited. For example, thecustomer identification device 250 may identify the customer by applyinga predetermined image recognition method on an image captured using acamera or may read information stored in a portable article carried by acustomer. The portable article is, for example, a device including an RFtag, an integrated circuit (IC) card, or the like.

The attachment provision control device 103 includes an attachmentdetermination unit 132 instead of the attachment determination unit 130,as compared with the attachment provision control device 100 accordingto the first example embodiment. Moreover, the attachment provisioncontrol device 103 includes a customer information acquisition unit 170and a storage unit 180. Other components are similar to those of thefirst example embodiment. Therefore, specific components of the thirdexample embodiment will be described in detail, and description of thecomponents similar to those of the first example embodiment will beomitted.

The storage unit 180 stores an attachment provided in the past and atleast one of the number and amount of attachments (provided number), inassociation with each other, for a purchased product of each customer.More specifically, the storage unit 180 stores a customer, a product, anattachment, and at least one of the number and the amount of providedattachments in association with each other. That is, the storage unit180 stores attachment history information (“attachment historyinformation 181” in FIG. 8). The storage unit 180 stores the attachmenthistory information 181 in advance. For example, an administrator of theattachment provision control device 103 makes the storage unit 180 storethe attachment history information 181 in advance.

The storage unit 180 is a second storage unit with respect to thestorage unit 110. However, the storage unit 180 may be provided in adevice that is physically or logically different from the storage unit110 or may be provided in the same device. For example, a single storagedevice may implement the functions as the storage units 110 and 180. Thestorage unit 180 may be provided in a device outside the attachmentprovision control device 103. In this case, the attachment provisioncontrol device 103 does not include the storage unit 180, and it issufficient for the attachment provision control device 103 to operateusing information associated to the attachment history information 181in the external device (not illustrated).

The customer information acquisition unit 170 acquires informationregarding a customer (for example, customer identification information)from the customer identification device 250 and sends the acquiredinformation to the attachment determination unit 132.

The attachment determination unit 132 determines at least one of thenumber and the amount of attachments to be attached to the purchasedproduct on the basis of the information regarding the purchased productand the information regarding the customer (pair of customer andpurchased product) and the attachment history information 181.

An example of determination by the attachment determination unit 132using the attachment history information 181 illustrated in FIG. 8 willbe described.

First, it is assumed that the attachment determination unit 132 acquirea lunch box as the information regarding the purchased product.Moreover, it is assumed that the attachment determination unit 132acquire a customer A as the information regarding the customer.

In this case, the attachment determination unit 132 extracts a pair ofan attachment and the number of attachments associated to a pair ofwhich “the purchased product is a lunch box” and “the customer is A” inthe attachment history information 181. In a case of FIG. 8, the pairsof the attachment and the number of attachments include a pair of“attachment=chopsticks” and “the number of attachments=0”, a pair of“attachment=spoon” and “the number of attachments=1”, and a pair of“attachment=soy sauce” and “the number of attachments=2”.

Here, the chopsticks, of which the number of attachments is zero, do notneed to be attached. Therefore, the attachment determination unit 132determines the number of attachments “1” of the attachment “spoon” andthe number of attachments “2” of the attachment “soy sauce” on the basisof the extracted pairs.

In a case where the pair of the customer and the purchased product isnot included in the attachment history information 181, the attachmentdetermination unit 132 operates similarly to the attachmentdetermination unit 130. That is, the attachment determination unit 132determines the attachment associated to the purchased product and atleast one of the number and the amount of attachments by using theattachment information 111 in the storage unit 110.

Then, the attachment determination unit 132 transmits the determinedattachment and at least one of the number and the amount of attachmentsto the attachment provision device 220 via the transmission unit 140.

The example illustrated in FIG. 8 will be described as a specificexample.

Referring to the attachment history information 181, in a history of acustomer A, attachments of a lunch box are one spoon and two soy sauces.On the other hand, in the attachment information 111, attachments of alunch box are one pair of chopsticks and one soy sauce. That is, FIG. 8illustrates a case where the pair of chopsticks is changed to the spoon,and the number of soy sauces is increased for the customer A.

For example, in a case where the product information acquisition unit120 acquires product information regarding the lunch box and thecustomer information acquisition unit 170 acquires information regardingthe customer A, the attachment determination unit 132 determines onespoon and two soy sauces as the attachments.

Alternatively, in a case where the product information acquisition unit120 acquires the product information regarding a lunch box and thecustomer information acquisition unit 170 acquires information regardinga customer who is not included in the attachment history information181, the attachment determination unit 132 determines attachments byusing the attachment information 111. In a case of FIG. 8, theattachment determination unit 132 determines one pair of chopsticks andone soy sauce as the attachments.

In a case where the attachment provision control device 103 has afunction for displaying the attachments similarly to the attachmentprovision control device 102, the attachment provision control device103 may display at least one of the number and the amount of attachmentsdetermined by the attachment determination unit 132. Moreover, theattachment provision control device 103 may display at least one of theinformation related to the attachment and the information related to thecustomer.

Alternatively, in a case where the attachment provision control device103 has the function for changing the number of attachments or the likesimilarly to the attachment provision control device 102, the attachmentdetermination unit 132 may update the attachment history information 181by using the changed number.

Next, an operation of the attachment provision control device 103according to the third example embodiment will be described.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the attachmentprovision control device 103 according to the third example embodiment.

The product information acquisition unit 120 of the attachment provisioncontrol device 103 acquires purchased product identification informationrelated to a purchased product from the product identification device210 (step S301).

The customer information acquisition unit 170 acquires informationregarding a customer from the customer identification device 250 (stepS321).

The attachment determination unit 132 determines whether a history canbe used (step S323). Specifically, the attachment determination unit 132determines whether the attachment history information 181 includes apair of the purchased product and the customer.

In a case where the history can be used (Yes in step S323), theattachment determination unit 132 determines the number of attachmentson the basis of the history (step S325). More specifically, theattachment determination unit 132 determines the number of attachmentsby using the attachment history information 181, the purchased productidentification information, and the information regarding the customer.

In a case where it is not possible to use the history (No in step S323),the attachment determination unit 132 determines the number ofattachments as in the first example embodiment (step S303).Specifically, the attachment determination unit 132 determines thenumber of attachments by using the attachment information 111 stored inthe storage unit 110 and the received purchased product identificationinformation.

Then, the transmission unit 140 transmits an instruction to provide atleast one of the determined number of attachments and the determinedamount of attachments to the attachment provision device 220 (stepS305).

As described above, the operation of the attachment provision controldevice 103 according to the third example embodiment is completed.

The attachment provision device 220 provides the received number ofattachments.

Next, an effect of the third example embodiment will be described.

According to the third example embodiment, an effect for providing theattachment suitable for the customer can be achieved, in addition to theeffect of the first example embodiment.

The reasons are as follows.

The storage unit 180 (second storage unit) stores the attachment historyinformation 181 that is information in which the customer, the productpurchased by the customer, the attachment provided when the product ispurchased, and at least one of the number and the amount of attachmentsare associated with each other. The customer information acquisitionunit 170 acquires information regarding a customer who purchases apurchased product. The attachment determination unit 132 determines anattachment associated to the purchased product and at least one of thenumber and the amount of attachments for each customer on the basis ofthe acquired customer, the purchased product, and the attachment historyinformation 181.

The attachment provision control device 103 can provide the attachmentassociated to the history of the customer on the basis of the aboveconfiguration.

In a case where the attachment provision control device 103 has afunction of the attachment provision control device 102 for controllingthe display of the attachments, the attachment provision control device103 may display at least one of the number and the amount of attachmentssuitable for the customer.

Moreover, in a case where the attachment provision control device 103has a function of the attachment provision control device 102 forchanging the attachment or the like, the attachment provision controldevice 103 may update the attachment history information 181 by usinginformation regarding the changed attachment or the like.

(Hardware Configuration)

In each example embodiment described above, each component of eachdevice (attachment provision control devices 100 to 103) indicates ablock in a functional unit. Some or all of the components of each devicemay be implemented by any combination of a computer and a program.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareconfiguration of a computer 500.

Referring to FIG. 10, the computer 500 includes a central processingunit (CPU) 501 that is an example of a processor. Moreover, the computer500 includes a read only memory (ROM) 502 and a random access memory(RAM) 503 that are examples of a memory. The computer 500 furtherincludes a program 504, a storage device 505, a drive device 507, acommunication interface 508, an input device 509, an output device 510,an input/output interface 511, and a bus 512.

The program 504 includes a command (instruction) to implement eachfunction of each device. The program 504 is stored in at least one ofthe ROM 502, the RAM 503, and the storage device 505 in advance.

The CPU 501 implements each function of each device by executing thecommand included in the program 504. For example, by executing thecommand included in the program 504 by the CPU 501 of the attachmentprovision control device 100, the computer 500 implements the functionsas the product information acquisition unit 120, the attachmentdetermination unit 130, and the transmission unit 140.

In addition to the program 504, the ROM 502 stores data that is requiredto be stored in each function of each device in advance, such as aninitial value.

In addition to the program 504, the RAM 503 stores data that istemporarily stored in each function of each device. For example, the RAM503 of the attachment provision control device 100 may store theacquired purchased product.

In addition to the program 504, the storage device 505 stores a largeamount of data that cannot be stored in the ROM 502 and the RAM 503.Moreover, the storage device 505 may store at least one of data savedfor a long period and data that is changed at a low frequency. Forexample, the storage device 505 of the attachment provision controldevice 100 operates as the storage unit 110. Alternatively, the storagedevice 505 of the attachment provision control device 103 operates asthe storage units 110 and 180.

A recording medium 506 records data used by the computer 500. Therecording medium 506 may record data acquired by the computer 500.

The drive device 507 reads the data recorded in the recording medium506. Moreover, the drive device 507 may write data into the recordingmedium 506.

The recording medium 506 may further include at least a part of theprogram 504. In this case, the program 504 recorded in the recordingmedium 506 may be read by the drive device 507, stored in the RAM 503 orthe storage device 505, and supplied to the CPU 501.

The ROM 502, the storage device 505, and the recording medium 506 areexamples of a non-transitory recording medium.

The communication interface 508 provides an interface with acommunication network. For example, the communication interface 508 ofthe attachment provision control device 100 may operate as a part of atleast one of the product information acquisition unit 120 and thetransmission unit 140. Alternatively, for example, the communicationinterface 508 of the attachment provision control device 102 may operateas a part of at least one of the display control unit 150 and theinstruction acquisition unit 160. Alternatively, for example, thecommunication interface 508 of the attachment provision control device103 may operate as a part of the customer information acquisition unit170.

The program 504 may be supplied from a device (not illustrated)connected to the communication network via the communication interface508 to the computer 500.

The input device 509 is, for example, a mouse and a keyboard andreceives an input of information from an administrator of the computer500 or the like. For example, the input device 509 of the attachmentprovision control device 102 may operate as a part of at least one ofthe instruction acquisition unit 160 and the input unit 240.

The output device 510 is, for example, a display, and outputs (display)information to the administrator or the like. For example, the outputdevice 510 of the attachment provision control device 102 may operate asa part of at least one of the display control unit 150 and the displayunit 230.

The input/output interface 511 provides an interface with peripheraldevices. For example, the input/output interface 511 of the attachmentprovision control device 102 may operate as a part of the displaycontrol unit 150 and the instruction acquisition unit 160.

The bus 512 connects the components of the hardware described above.

The hardware configuration illustrated in FIG. 10 is an example. Thecomputer 500 may include a component other than those described aboveand does not need to include some of the components described above.

(Modification)

There are various modifications of the method for implementing eachdevice. For example, the components of each device may be implemented byany combination of computers and programs different for the respectivedevices.

Alternatively, a plurality of components included in each device may beimplemented by any combination of a single computer and a program.

Alternatively, some or all of the components of each device may beimplemented by a general-purpose circuitry or dedicated circuitincluding a processor or the like and a combination thereof.

The circuit may include a single chip or include a plurality of chipsconnected via a predetermined bus.

Some of all of the components of each device may be implemented by acombination of the circuit or the like and the program.

In a case where some or all of the components of each device areimplemented by a plurality of computers, circuits, or the like, theplurality of computers, circuits, or the like may be centrally ordispersedly arranged.

Each device of each example embodiment may be disposed in a store or maybe disposed in a place different from the store and connected to adevice (for example, POS terminal or store server) of the store via acommunication network. That is, each device may be implemented by acloud computing system.

While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the present disclosureis not limited to these embodiments. It will be understood by those ofordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure. The components of each example embodiment can becombined with each other without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

Although some or all of the example embodiments may be described assupplementary notes below, some or all of the example embodiments arenot limited to the following supplementary notes.

(Supplementary Note 1)

An attachment provision control device including:

product information acquisition means for acquiring information relatedto a purchased product and at least one of a purchase quantity and apurchase amount of the purchased product;

attachment determination means for determining at least one of a numberand an amount of attachments to be attached to the purchased productbased on the information related to the purchased product and at leastone of the purchase quantity and the purchase amount of the purchasedproduct; and

transmission means for transmitting an instruction to provide at leastone of the determined number of attachments or the determined amount ofattachments to an attachment provision device.

(Supplementary Note 2)

The attachment provision control device according to supplementary note1, further including:

display control means for making display means of the attachmentprovision device display at least one of the determined number andamount of attachments; and

instruction acquisition means for acquiring an instruction related to atleast one of provision of the displayed attachment, a change of theattachment, an increase in the attachment, and a reduction in theattachment from a customer who purchases the purchased product, in which

the attachment determination means determines at least one of the numberand the amount of attachments based on the acquired instruction.

(Supplementary Note 3)

The attachment provision control device according to supplementary note2, in which

in a case where at least one of the number and the amount of attachmentsis a predetermined number,

the display control means stops display related to the increase in theattachment on the display means, or

the instruction acquisition means stops the acquisition of theinstruction related to the increase in the attachment.

(Supplementary Note 4)

The attachment provision control device according to supplementary note2 or 3, in which

in a case where at least one of a movement of the customer who haspurchased the purchased product and detection of another customer isdetected, the display control means returns the display means to aninitial state including at least one of display of an initial screen andturning off a light.

(Supplementary Note 5)

The attachment provision control device according to any one ofsupplementary notes 2 to 4, in which

in a case where an operation is not detected within a predetermined timefrom start of the display related to the increase in the attachments onthe display means, the display control means returns the display meansto the initial state including at least one of the display of theinitial screen and turning off a light.

(Supplementary Note 6)

The attachment provision control device according to any one ofsupplementary notes 2 to 5, further including:

customer information acquisition means for acquiring informationregarding the customer who purchases the purchased product, in which

the attachment determination means determines the attachment associatedto the purchased product and at least one of the number and the amountof attachments based on the acquired information regarding the customerand the purchased product, and

the display control means displays at least one of the number and theamount of attachments determined by the attachment determination means.

(Supplementary Note 7)

The attachment provision control device according to supplementary note6, in which

the attachment determination means updates attachment historyinformation based on the customer acquired by the customer informationacquisition means and the instruction acquired by the instructionacquisition means.

(Supplementary Note 8)

An attachment provision system including:

an attachment provision control device including:

-   -   product information acquisition means for acquiring information        related to a purchased product and at least one of a purchase        quantity and a purchase amount of the purchased product;    -   attachment determination means for determining at least one of a        number and an amount of attachments to be attached to the        purchased product based on the information related to the        purchased product and at least one of the purchase quantity and        the purchase amount of the purchased product; and    -   transmission means for transmitting an instruction to provide at        least one of the determined number of attachments or the        determined amount of attachments to an attachment provision        device;

the attachment provision device configured to provide the attachmentbased on the instruction received from the attachment provision controldevice; and

a product identification device configured to identify the purchasedproduct and at least one of the purchase quantity and the purchaseamount of the purchased product and transmit the information related tothe purchased product and at least one of the purchase quantity and thepurchase amount of the purchased product to the attachment provisioncontrol device.

(Supplementary Note 9)

An attachment provision control method including:

acquiring information related to a purchased product and at least one ofa purchase quantity and a purchase amount of the purchased product;

determining at least one of a number and an amount of attachments to beattached to the purchased product based on the information related tothe purchased product and at least one of the purchase quantity and thepurchase amount of the purchased product; and

transmitting an instruction to provide at least one of the determinednumber of attachments or the determined amount of attachments to anattachment provision device.

(Supplementary Note 10)

An attachment provision method, in which

an attachment provision control device

-   -   acquires information related to a purchased product and at least        one of a purchase quantity and a purchase amount of the        purchased product,    -   determines at least one of a number and an amount of attachments        to be attached to the purchased product based on the information        related to the purchased product and at least one of the        purchase quantity and the purchase amount of the purchased        product, and

transmits an instruction to provide at least one of the determinednumber of attachments or the determined amount of attachments to anattachment provision device;

the attachment provision device

-   -   provides the attachment based on the instruction received from        the attachment provision control device; and

a product identification device

-   -   identifies the purchased product and at least one of the        purchase quantity and the purchase amount of the purchased        product and    -   transmits the information related to the purchased product and        at least one of the purchase quantity and the purchase amount of        the purchased product to the attachment provision control        device.

(Supplementary Note 11)

A recording medium that records, in a computer-readable manner, aprogram for causing a computer to execute processing including:

processing for acquiring information related to a purchased product andat least one of a purchase quantity and a purchase amount of thepurchased product;

processing for determining at least one of a number and an amount ofattachments to be attached to the purchased product based on theinformation related to the purchased product and at least one of thepurchase quantity and the purchase amount of the purchased product; and

processing for transmitting an instruction to provide at least one ofthe determined number of attachments or the determined amount ofattachments to an attachment provision device.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese patent application No. 2019-048564, filed on Mar. 15, 2019, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   10 attachment provision system-   11 attachment provision system-   12 attachment provision system-   100 attachment provision control device-   101 attachment provision control device-   102 attachment provision control device-   103 attachment provision control device-   110 storage unit-   111 attachment information-   120 product information acquisition unit-   130 attachment determination unit-   131 attachment determination unit-   132 attachment determination unit-   140 transmission unit-   150 display control unit-   160 instruction acquisition unit-   170 customer information acquisition unit-   180 storage unit-   181 attachment history information-   210 product identification device-   220 attachment provision device-   221 attachment provision device-   230 display unit-   240 input unit-   250 customer identification device-   500 computer-   501 CPU-   502 ROM-   503 RAM-   504 program-   505 storage device-   506 recording medium-   507 drive device-   508 communication interface-   509 input device-   510 output device-   511 input/output interface-   512 bus

What is claimed is:
 1. An attachment provision control devicecomprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory,the processor performing operations, the operations comprising:acquiring information related to a purchased product and at least one ofa purchase quantity and a purchase amount of the purchased product;determining at least one of a number and an amount of attachments to beattached to the purchased product based on the information related tothe purchased product and at least one of the purchase quantity and thepurchase amount of the purchased product; and transmitting aninstruction to provide at least one of the determined number ofattachments or the determined amount of attachments to an attachmentprovision device.
 2. The attachment provision control device accordingto claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise: making a displayunit of the attachment provision device display at least one of thedetermined number and amount of attachments; acquiring an instructionrelated to at least one of provision of the displayed attachment, achange of the attachment, an increase in the attachment, and a reductionin the attachment from a customer who purchases the purchased product;and determining at least one of the number and the amount of attachmentsbased on the acquired instruction.
 3. The attachment provision controldevice according to claim 2, wherein the instructions further comprise:in a case where at least one of the number and the amount of attachmentsis a predetermined number, stopping display related to the increase inthe attachment on the display unit, or stopping the acquisition of theinstruction related to the increase in the attachment.
 4. The attachmentprovision control device according to claim 2, wherein the instructionsfurther comprise: in a case where at least one of a movement of thecustomer who has purchased the purchased product and detection ofanother customer is detected, returning the display unit to an initialstate including at least one of display of an initial screen and turningoff a light.
 5. The attachment provision control device according toclaim 2, wherein the instructions further comprise: in a case where anoperation is not detected within a predetermined time from start of thedisplay related to the increase in the attachments on the display unit,returning the display unit to the initial state including at least oneof the display of the initial screen and turning off a light.
 6. Theattachment provision control device according to claim 2, wherein theoperations further comprise: acquiring information regarding thecustomer who purchases the purchased product, determining the attachmentassociated to the purchased product and at least one of the number andthe amount of attachments based on the acquired information regardingthe customer and the purchased product, and displaying at least one ofthe determined number and the determined amount of attachments.
 7. Theattachment provision control device according to claim 6, wherein theinstructions further comprise: updating attachment history informationbased on the acquired information regarding the customer and theacquired instruction acquired instruction.
 8. (canceled)
 9. Anattachment provision control method comprising: acquiring informationrelated to a purchased product and at least one of a purchase quantityand a purchase amount of the purchased product; determining at least oneof a number and an amount of attachments to be attached to the purchasedproduct based on the information related to the purchased product and atleast one of the purchase quantity and the purchase amount of thepurchased product; and transmitting an instruction to provide at leastone of the determined number of attachments or the determined amount ofattachments to an attachment provision device.
 10. (canceled)
 11. Anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium embodying a program,the program causing a computer to perform a method, the methodcomprising: acquiring information related to a purchased product and atleast one of a purchase quantity and a purchase amount of the purchasedproduct; determining at least one of a number and an amount ofattachments to be attached to the purchased product based on theinformation related to the purchased product and at least one of thepurchase quantity and the purchase amount of the purchased product; andtransmitting an instruction to provide at least one of the determinednumber of attachments or the determined amount of attachments to anattachment provision device.